Pubdate: Thu, 03 Mar 2005
Source: Worthing Herald (UK)
Copyright: 2005 Worthing Herald
Contact:  http://www.mapinc.org/media/3115
Cited:  Chris Baldwin http://www.ccguide.org.uk/chrisbaldwin.php

CANNABIS CHRIS HAS HIGH HOPES IN POLL

CANNABIS campaigner Chris Baldwin will return to the political arena this year.

He has announced he will stand as a parliamentary candidate for the 
Legalise Cannabis Alliance (LCA) in both the East Worthing and Shoreham and 
Worthing West constituencies.

The veteran activist has been a leading light in the cannabis debate in 
Worthing for several years now, polling 920 votes for the LCA in the 2001 
general election.

A paraplegic since the age of seven, Mr Baldwin walks with the aid of 
crutches and uses cannabis to ease the pain of spasms in his legs.

He hit the headlines in January, 2004, when he was jailed for six months 
for offences relating to the running of the Quantum Leaf cannabis cafe in 
Rowlands Road, Worthing.

He was released after six-and-a-half weeks, but still had time to go on 
hunger strike to protest at the lack of provision for his vegan diet.

The prison experience may have tempered Mr Baldwin's more confrontational 
methods, but his commitment to cannabis legalisation remains undiminished.

"Things have changed over the 35 years that I've been campaigning, 
attitudes have changed greatly", said Mr Baldwin, from Carnegie Close.

"At the last hustings I attended, a lady wearing a blue rosette said: "I 
now see things in a different light".  We'd managed to change her attitude.

"In a democracy, if you can change people's attitudes you have won the day."